Device for washing piston-packers and liners



Aug. 11, 1931. w. BAILEY 1,818,187

` DEVICE FOR WASHING PVSTON PACKERS AND LINERS Filed Aug. 29. 1928 lgj Z i /6 t i g /4 /Z 2f a A9 Y. /y

if 55 3 960 .a5 /2 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 @PATENT oir-"mcs WALTER C. BAILEY, 0F NORWALK, `CAlZi-IlCrItNIL vDEVH'F. FOB WASHNG PISlON-PACKEBS AND LINERS Application filed August 29, 1928.

My invention relates to pistons, and it relates .particularly to a piston having` a washing-means for washing the 'packing-means, vand ya piston which will not be lexcessively worn `on one side.

My invention'i's particularly applicable to Awhat is known as a pulsating-piston, and in the following description it will be shown as applied to a pulsating-piston. It should be understood, however, that the invention may be used on other types ot pistons, and it is .shown in .connection with apnlsating-piston solely for the purpose of illustration.

vThe ordinary form of pulsating-piston consiste-ot a body and a pair ofcup-shaped packing-members which are usually made from rubber or other resilient material. The packing-members are secured :to the body so that their annular lips extend outward in opposite directions.

When the piston is reciprocated in a cylinder, the pressure in the end of the'cylinder toward which the piston is moved, willtorce outward the cylindrical lip of the adjacent packing-member and cause it to tightly en- Y gage the'cylinder and prevent vlea rage. The

other packing-member at this time is in .nor-

.mal position .and the cylindrical lip thereof is not forced by any liuid pressure against the cylinder. When the piston moves in an opy posite direction the other packing-member is operated by the `fluid pressure and the irst mentioned packing-member is relieved of the pressure.

' In Vthe present invention it is my object to provide a washing-means tor delivering a wa'shinm-tluid between the packing-means and the cylinder, primarily for the purpose of washing away grit and other abrasives which,

as is well known in the art, quickly wear away the packing-means, and demands replacement 4'of the piston and constant attenticn to the pump.

A further obj ect of my invention is the provision of a washing-means particularly adapted to a pulsating-piston, the washingmeans beingr arranged so that the washing'- luid will be passed between the packingmember which is not expanded by the fluid pressure, :and the cylinder, so that when the Serial No. 302,842.

`washes one packing-member and then lthe `other packing-member, andthe result is that the :packing-members are always clean, this naturally resulting vin a longer :lite for lthe pump piston.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a piston as pointed out heretofore, in which the washing-means is connected lto the central peripheral part of .the packingmeans. By so positioning 'the washingmeans the washing fluid is free to pass in one direction or the other so that Vthe packingmembers are alternately cleansed. l n

It is Aa still further object of my invention E to provide a pump-piston in which the w-afshing-means is placed between a pair fof packing-members, these parts being retained by fa support-means. The packing-members `are designed'so that one et the packing-members is forced against the cylinder when the piston is moved in rone direction, and the other of the packing-members is forced against the cylinder when the lpiston moves in the opposite direction. VThe washing-means supplies 3 washing-fluid between ithe packing-member which is not forced against the cylinder, and the cylinder An additional object of this invention r'e- Y sides in the provision of a washing-means which includes a disc which is placed between the packing-members. The disc is provided with passages which supply' the washing iluid to the periphery of the piston.

In theordinary pump ot this type the piston is reciprocated in the cylinder by means of a piston rod which extends through a stulingboX of the cylinder, and it is connected to `a prime mover in the form of a piston and cyly inder, or some other reciprocating means. When the piston is at the end of its vstroke farthest from the stuiling-box, the pistonrod does not properly .support the piston; consequently an excessive weight is imposed on the lower part of the cylinder. This results in excessive Wear, not only on the lower part of the piston, but also on theloiver part of the cylinder.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a reciprocating pump of the character mentioned which is provided With means for supporting the piston so that at either end of the stroke, and at all times. the piston Wil not bear With excessive force against the lower part of the cylinder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pump having a piston operatin in a cylinder, this piston being connected to piston-rod which extends through a stufiingbox. To assist the piston-rod in suiriporting the piston, the pump is provided with a support-rod connected to the piston and extended through the opposite en d o'iltli c cylinder. T support-rod extends through a bearing so that the support-rod is properly supported. The piston-rod and the support-rod cooperate to support the piston at all times, and the lower part of the piston and the lower part of the cylinder are not excessively ivorn.

Other objects of the invention reside in the various details of construction, and these objects Will be made evident in the following description of the preferred form of my invention.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the accompanyingr drawings in which,

Fig. 1 illustrates the utility of the invention. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of' the invention.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on theline 3;-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the utility view illustrates a slush-pump which is commonly used in the oil producing industry for pumping slush into a Well which is being drilled. This slush carries particles of abrasive, and these particles of abrasive enter between the piston and the cylinder of the pump, 'and as previously pointed out, cause the pact.. the piston to be cut away.

The common form of slush-pump includes one or more cylinders 11, each of which provides a liner 12. The opposite ends of the cylinders are providedin the form el chambers 14 which are connected to an inlet 15 by means of valves 16. The chambers 14 are also connected to an outlet 17 by .valve-means not shown in Fig. 1 since the valve-means are rlocated in back of the line on Which the sectionistalen. Anaptcd to operate in the liA r 12 a piston 19 embodying the fea* of the invention. The piston 19 is at` a piston-rod 20, which extends to the e.\;terior of the cylinder 11 throughja stalling-box 21. The opposite end of the piston-rod 2O entends into a suitable prime mover 22 by means of which it is reoiprocat'ed.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3,

the details of the piston of the invention will bedescribed. That portion of the piston-rodV 20 Which receives the pump-piston 19, is tapered as indicated at 25. The piston 19 has a body indicated by the numeral 26, this body including a primary plate 27 and a secondary plate 28. The primary plate 27 includes an annular flange 29 and a cylindrical hub 30 having a tapered opening which engages the tapered-end 25 of the piston-rod 20. The end-plate 28 consists of a flange Which extends onto the end of the tapered-end 25, and Which has a cylindrical recess 31 which receives one end of the cylindrical hub 30. Placed on the cylindrical hub 30 is a packing-means consisting of a pair of packing-members 33. The packingiembers 33 are preferably made from rubber, rubber' composition, or other suitable Senn-resilient material, and have radial Walls 34 at the outer ends of which cylindrical lips 35 are provided. The cylindrical lips 35 extend outward in opposite directions. The nearest faces of the flanges of the primary and secondary plates 27V and 28 are pr vided With annular beads 36 which are adapted to be embedded in the radial Walls 35 of the packing-members 33 in order to prevent leakage between these parts. Placed on the cylindrical hub 30 between the packing-members 83 is a disc 39. The disc 39 is slightly smaller in diameterthan the liner 12. The end of the piston-rod 2O is threaded at 40, and a nut 41 is screwed tnereonto so that the parts of the piston are clamped together as shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the threaded-end 40 of the piston rod 2O is a support-rod 44, the supportrod 44 having a threaded cavity 45 which receives the threaded-end 40. This supportrod 44 extends from the'piston 19 in a direction opposite from the piston-rod 20, and it extends through a bearing 4G to the exterior of the cylinder 11. The outer end of the support-rod 44 is provided with a nut 47 whereby it may be tightly screwed on to the threaded-end 40 of the piston-rod 20.

The outer end of the support-rod 44 is provided in the form of a nipple 49 so that a flexible hose 50 may be secured thereto by a suitable coupling 51. Formed in the support-rod 44 is a fluid passage 53. Formed in the end of the piston-rod 2O is a fluid passage 54 which communicates with the fluid passage l ininates near the central part of the piston 19 and radial openings 55 connect it to the exterior of the piston-rod 20. The radial passages are connected to an annular groove Formed in the cylindrical hub 30 of the primary end-plate 27 are radial openings 58 Which connect the annular groove 56 te an annular channel 59 formed on the exterior of the cylindrical hub 30.

The disc 39 is provided with radial ducts 60 Eto '11 is compressed.

which communicate with the annu-lar recess 59. The periphery of the disc 39 is provi-ded with an annular groove 61 to Vwhich lthe radial ducts 60 are connected. The hose 50 is connected to a suitable source of Washing fluid which is delivered Vunder pressure to the piston 19.

The operation of the invention is as follows: lVhen the piston 19 is moved in a direction indicated by the arrow 65 of Fig. 2, the slush in the right end of the cylinder The pressure of the sl-ush vcauses the cylindrical lip '35 of the right packing-member to be forced outward in fluid-tight contact with the liner 12. The

'left packing-member 33, due lto the fact thatv it is not subjected to a slush pressure, is not caused to tightly engage the liner 12. The Washing fluid passes through the various intercommunicating passages and enters the annu-lar grove 61.

In view of the fact that there may be a `slight clearance between the left-packing- -member and the liner 12 the Washing fluid will pass to the left between the surfaces, and any abrasive particles, or any slush, is Washed from these surfaces and they are left practically clean. l/Vhen the piston reaches the end of its stroke and moves in the oppo- 'sitel direction a slush pressure is created in the left end of the cylinder 11. This forces 'the cylindrical lip 35 of the left packingmem'ber 33 into tight Contact with the liner 12. In view ofthe fact that the surfaces of these parts have just beencleaned by the Washing fluid, there is no grit or other foreign matter to prevent a full sealing engagement of these parts. When once the cylindrical lip has been forced into engagement vvith the liner 12 the possibility of abrasive particles entering between these parts is Aquite small, at least until the piston reaches vthe end of its stroke Where the pressures are `the greatest.

Even though some of the slush and abrasive particles enter between the cylindrical lip andthe liner near the end of the str-cke, they vdo not do any damage in vievv of the fact that the piston is near the end of its stroke and does not move but a slight distance after the abrasive particles have entered between the parts. Immediately after that time the piston moves inthe opposite ldirection and these abrasive particles are Washed from the mentioned parts. Vhen the piston moves to the left, the Was-hing flu-id Will pass between the cylindrical lip of the right packing-member, and the iner, so that the right packing-*nember is cleansed at this time. Y

lt will be seen in the foregoing description that the cylindrical lips 35 of tl e paching-members 33 are alternately Washed or cleansed so that they may engage theV liner Without any abrasive particles lodgingbetween them and 'the liner. In a piston incorporating the Washing feature of my invention the life of the piston will be much longer than that of the ordinary piston which does not provide for cleansing the surfaces of the packing-means.

In the drawings I have shown the fluid passage 58 .in the support-rod 44. If desired this part of the invention lmay be accomplished .by eliminating the support-rod 44C, and by forming the Huid-passage 53 in the piston-rod 20. It will then be necessary to Vattach the hose 50 to that portion of the piston-rod 2O which is to the left of the stuflingbox 21.

Another feature` of the invention is the proper supporting of the piston 19 so that the piston Will not engage the loiver part vof the liner 12 with an excessive pressure, Which excessive pressure as previously pointed out, causes the lower part of the piston and the lower part of the liner to be worn away. In my invention the piston is supported on both sides so that it is impossible for the piston to sag at either end of its stroke, This feature of the invention Vtherefore resides in the provision of a piston having a supporting-means on boh sides thereof, which restrains it to substantially a rectilinear motion.

It is possible to utilize the Washing features of the invention Without the feature of supporting the piston by the supporting means at each end, and vice versa,

In the claims the :term cylinde7 is to be construed to mean the Tlvall which surrounds the piston, and with which the lips 35 engage.

l claim as my invention:

1. In a pump-piston, the combination of: a piston rod; a body' supported on said piston rod; a pair of packingqnembers carried by said body, and adapted to be alternately forced against the cylinder in which the piston operates; a disc carried by said body between said packing-members. sait dise having passages for delivering Washing-fluid to the periphery of the piston. between said packing-members; and a rod connected to Ysaid piston rod for delivering Washing-fluid to said disc.

2. In combination in a pump: a cylinder; 4a piston in said cylinder; a piston-rod connected to said piston and extended from said cylinder; a pair of packing-members carried by said piston, and adapted to be alternately forced against said cylinder: a disc carried by said piston between said packing-members, said disc having passages for delivering Washing-fluid to the periphery of said piston, between said packing-members; and means connected to said piston for delivering Washing-iuid to vsaid disc. y

3. In combination in a pump: a cylinder; apiston in said cylinder; a piston-rod connected to said piston and extended from said Cil Yinemlieis adapte'd'to be alternately forced against said cylinder; a disc disposed between said packing-members; said disc having a passage for supplying washing-fluid to the periphery of said piston; and a member connected to said pistou-rod and adapted for supplying washing-fluid through said disc passage to said cylinder.

5. In combination in a pump: a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a piston-rod connected to said piston ano extending therethrough; a pair of packing-members carried by said piston; said packing-members adapted to be alternately forced against said cylinder; a disc disposed between said packing-members, said disc having passages therein; a member connected to an extended end of said piston-rod for delivering washing-fluid through said disc passages to the periphery of said piston; and means for connecting said packing-members and d disc to said piston.

6. In combination in a'pump: a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder; a piston-rod connected to said piston: a pair of packing-members connected to said piston; a disc disposed between said packing-members having passages leading to the periphery of said piston; connecting means for said packing-members and disc to said piston; and supporting means for said piston-rod adapted to deliver washing-fluid to the periphery of said piston through said disc passages.

7. In combination in a pump: a cylinder; a pist-on in said cylinder; a piston-rod connected to said piston and having a passage therein; a pair of packing-members connected to said piston; a disc disposed between said packing-members; said disc having passages formed therein; and a member connected to said piston-rod for delivering washing-Huid through said passages tothe periphery et said piston, said member supporting one end of said piston-rod.

S. In combination in a pump: a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder: a piston-rod connected to said piston and having a passage therein; a pair of packing-members connected to said piston; a disc disposed between said paching-members; said disc having passages communicating with said pispiston-rod and member in a manner to ton-rod passage; a member connected to said piston-rod for delivering washing-fluid through said passages to the periphery of said piston; and means for supporting said prevent excessive wear of said piston on said cylinder.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 7 in which is included means for adjustably connecting the piston and member to said piston-rod.

10. In combination in a pump: a cylinder casing including a cylinder; a piston-rod extended through one end of said casing; a piston connected to Vsaid'piston-rod; a pair of' packing-members connected to said piston; a disc carried by said piston between said packing-members; said disc having passages for delivering washing-fluid to the periphery of said piston between said packing-members; a fluid supply member disposed in alignment with said piston-rod and adapted for 'delivering washing-fluid to said disc; and means on said cylinder casing for supporting said fluid supply member in alignment with said piston-rod.

ll. In combination in a pump: a cylinder casing including a. cylinder; a piston operable in said cylinder; a piston-rod extending through one end of said casing and connected to said piston; a pair of packing-members carried by said piston, one of' said packingvmembers being forced against tie Acylinder when the piston is moved in one direction, and the other of said packing-members being forced against the cylinder when the piston moves in an opposite direction; a fluid supply means for supplying washing-fluid between the said packing-member which is not forced against the cylinder and the cylinder, said fluid supply means including a disc disposed between said packing-members and a member extending through the opposite end of said cylinder casing; and means on said cylinder casing for holding said piston-rod 4, and member in alignment.

12. In combination in a pump: a cylinder easing including a cylinder; a piston-rod extending through one end of said casing; a piston on said piston-rod; a pair of packingmembers carried by said piston; one of said packing-members adapted to be alternately forced against the walls of said cylinder; a disc disposed on said i. 'on-rod between said paching-1nembersl` said disc having passages for delivering` washing-fluid to the periphery of said piston, between said packing-members; a fiuid supplyv member extending through the opposite end of' said cylinder casing for delivering` a washing-'Huid to said disc; and guide means on said cylinder casing for supporting said piston-rod and fluid supply member in sai d. cy..inder casing.

13. In combination in a pump: a cylinder casing including a cylinder; a piston-rod extending through one end of said casing; a piston on said piston-rod; a pair of packingmembers carried by said piston, one of said packing-members adapted to be alternately forced against the walls of said cylinder; a disc disposed on said piston-rod between said packingmembers, said dise having passages for delivering washingiiuid to the periphery of said piston, between said packing-members; a fluid supply member extending through the opposite end of said cylinder casing for delivering a washing-fluid to said disc; and bearing elements on said cylinder casing engaging said piston-rod and fluid supply member for holding said piston against sidewise deviation in said cylinder.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set y my hand at Los Angeles, California, this th day of August, 1928.

WALTER C. BAILEY. 

